Page 79 of The Red-Hot Stakes

Waiting was agonizing, and I felt like a knife dangled just above my heart. I memorized the imaginary sharpness of its blade, the curve of the handle that would soon plunge deep into my chest by my own hand. But I had to sit there with the phantom tip pressing into my skin.

A mere taste of the pain to come.

To pass the time, I searched for local bars near Sally’s. There weren’t many, but I had to hope one of them was hiring. Not only was my current place of employment a pile of burnt rubble, but there was no way I could stomach working with Liam after this. If he even wanted me to.

At last, Liam walked in. I glanced at the time—nearly two. I’d arrive early at Sally’s, but it didn’t matter. I stood as Liam stopped abruptly, taking in my suitcases and a few boxes.

“Gina? What’s going on?”

“I’m done, Liam. It’s time to move on.” I kept my tone cool, let it border on harsh while my expression stayed neutral. But oh, on the inside. Inside it was all I could do not to sob.

“What do you mean?” He rubbed his eyes as if he were dreaming. As if when he woke up, it would all be back to normal.

If only.

“Is this about you thinking you’re cursed?”

The knife ripped through me again. I pretended my face was made of stone, that my heart was made of ice. “It’s the only way, Liam. It’s best for both of us, and someday, you’ll see that.”

He shook his head. “No, never. Being apart can never be what’s best for us.”

“I’m leaving. I’ve already found my own place.” I sighed, channeling the inner bitch so many saw me as. “Sorry about the timing, but I really need to focus on my career. I have dreams, Liam, and I just can’t handle all these distractions.”

The idea that the love of my life was simply a distraction nearly had me undone, but I kept my unfeeling mask firmly in place. Liam reeled backward as if I’d struck him.

“My Uber will be here soon.” I hauled my things to the hallway in two trips, making sure I didn’t look at Liam any more than necessary. I didn’t have the stomach for it. Luckily a lot of my stuff was still in Avery’s storage room.

I placed the key to his apartment on the table, along with my key ring for The High Five. “Good luck rebuilding. I wish you all the best.” It took every ounce of my strength not to throw my arms around him and beg for his forgiveness. And I still had to find more of that strength to keep my chin up, stride past him out of the apartment then shut the door behind me.

Somehow I did it. I allowed myself a brief second to sag against the wall before hauling everything to the elevator and through the lobby. I’d just finished loading the trunk of the Uber when Liam frantically called my name.

He tore across the sidewalk to clutch my hand, dropping to his knees. “Don’t go.” Only two words, but his whole heart was in them.

This proud, amazing man was begging me, literally begging me, to stay. My heart shattered into millions of pieces. Pieces so minuscule, I had no hope of ever putting them back together again.

I stared at the man I loved more than anything, desperately reaching to remember why I was doing this and what was at stake. I forced myself to sneer, “Liam, have some dignity.” I yanked my hand from his and stepped into the Uber, shutting the door behind me.

I didn’t dare look back, couldn’t handle seeing the crushed expression I knew I’d find on Liam’s face. My stomach rolled as if I might vomit.

My cell phone rang. “Hello?”

Heartless laughter filled the line. “Gina, you were exquisite, and I can’t thank you enough. I’ll send you those coordinates right now. You definitely earned them.”

He hung up, and I looked around frantically, knowing he had seen us. He had to be here somewhere. Was he outside, nearby? Had he walked past and I’d missed him? The sidewalk was empty other than Liam growing smaller in the distance.

A text came through with an address, then another text with a video.

Woodenly, I opened it to find Liam on his knees, me staring down my nose at him, yanking my hand away. “Have some dignity.” The video looped over and over. I shut off the phone as the tears poured down.

* * * *

Hours later, I walked to the coordinates the blackmailer had given me, my backpack holding several necessities including a can of polyurethane. I’d read it would negate any possible fingerprints, just in case I was stopped from point A to point B.

This evidence needed to be destroyed, and I was going to do it. If I got caught, so be it. It was a risk I was willing to take if it meant keeping Liam out of jail.

I couldn’t let the madman win.

The address turned out to be a tilted shed in an abandoned lot. One door hung open. A small red gas can sat inside, along with a few rags and a pair of ratty shoes that were just Liam’s size. His truck shoes.

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